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If you require assistance with setting up a data recovery case, or have any additional questions, please
contact one of our qualified recovery specialists toll-free at 1-800-388-388-1266

We are continuing to offer our data recovery services during the COVID-19 pandemic.As part of our commitment to limiting the spread of the virus, we encourage you to ship your media directly to our lab instead of visiting a drop-off location.

We offer specialized services for all older tape cartridges including IBM's 3480 format.

The IBM 3480 family was one of the most influential and popular modern data storage formats from the mid-1980s to 2004, when the tapes were more or less replaced by the IBM 3590 and by higher-capacity cartridges from various other product lines. Even so, the 3480 is durable enough that many businesses still rely on the cartridges for archival storage.

The first IBM 3480 tapes could store 200 megabytes native and did not support hardware-based corruption. Later models such as the 3480 IDRC added hardware compression, and the subsequent 3490, still considered a part of the 3480 product line due to the interchangeability of the two formats, added extra tracks for a native capacity of 2400 megabytes. All 3480 tapes are distinguished by a relatively high data transfer rate, which allowed for efficient, reliable system backups.

Some of the most common causes of data loss on IBM 3480 tape cartridges include:

Oxide Loss Due to Environmental Factors

Exposure to Extreme Heat

Snapped, Stretched, Broken or Folded Tape

Damage from Physical Impacts

Worn Tape from Successive Overwrites

Smoke and Fire Damage

Water Damage

File Corruption, Accidental Overwrites and More

Our tape recovery team has years of experience with common backup applications and can recover most 3480 cartridges in a matter of days. We are uniquely qualified to treat both logical and physical data loss on IBM 3480 media, and we always use safe procedures to protect media while performing repairs. Secure Data Recovery Services provides free diagnostics for all cartridge formats, and all of our services feature a no recovery, no charge guarantee. Contact our customer service team today to get started.

What to Do When a IBM 3480 Tape Cartridge Fails

3480 cartridges use 1/2" tape made from chromium dioxide, which allows for exceptional dependability after a single write. However, the tape is sensitive to environmental contaminants. 3480 tape heads cannot read data correctly after encountering dust, dirt, fingerprint oils or other particles and substances. Because of this, you should never attempt to repair a damaged 3480 cartridge. If you cannot access data on a IBM 3480 tape, Secure Data Recovery Services offers a safe way to restore your data to a working condition.

Before recovering data from 3480 tapes, we perform an analysis to determine the cause and extent of media damage. Many factors can affect turnaround times and pricing, including tape compression, physical damage and backup application, and our no-risk diagnostics provide a way to assess recovery costs and turnaround time without charge. We offer several tape data recovery turnaround levels including same-day 24/7/365 emergency services, and each option features SSAE 18 Type II certified security.

A Secure Resource for IBM 3480 Tape Data Recovery

In order to regain access to damaged tape media, you need fast help from a qualified data recovery company. We invest heavily in our laboratory technology in order to give each case the best possible treatment, and as industry-leading data tape repair specialists, we maintain an outstanding overall success rate of 96 percent.

Reasons to choose Secure Data Recovery Services include:

Risk-Free Diagnostics and a No Recovery, No Charge Guarantee

Proprietary Technology for 3480 Tape Data Recovery

Best-in-Class Security with Numerous Compliance Certifications

A Large Inventory of 3480 Tape Drives and Media Components

RAID Repair and RAID Data Recovery Services for Less Downtime

Online Case Tools, 24/7 Customer Service and More

Secure Data Recovery Services operates a number of offices across the United States, and we can handle any data recovery request regardless of failure symptoms, number of tapes or other factors. Whether you need 3480 tape data recovery services on a regular basis or for a one-time disaster, our flexible turnaround options give you an easy way to guarantee the best possible return on your investment. To schedule a media evaluation for your 3480 cartridges, contact our 24/7 customer service team today.